Railway car heating system with enclosed piping



Nov. 16, 1954 E, A. RUSSELL ETAL RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l5, 1949 Illini-...IEE

Nov. 16, 1954 E A, RUSSELL ErAL 2,694,529

RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING YFilecl June 15, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 16, 1954 E A, RUSSELL ETAL 2,694,529

Y RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING Filed June 15, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. `16, 1954` E. A. RUSSELL ETAL 2,694,529

RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING Filed June 15, 1949 e sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 16, 1954 E, A, RUSSELL ErAL RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed n me 15, 1949 Nov. 16, 1954 E A, RUSSELL ETAL 2,694,529

RAILWAY CAR HEATING SYSTEM WITH ENCLOSED PIPING Filed June l5, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 the'rn from'v the 'windfand- `outsidetemperatures"nur United States Patent RAmwAYcARnEATmGsrsrnwrwrrxr ENCE-ositoL Pirnie-"- J with the:- heating'fmediuni-supply nderetu'rn pipes of v"theh" system'ehasfpresentedf 'individual problehiv'forf each'finstallat'ion.- =Ths`e probleisf have been dueflargelyto the fact that the; supply 'andrreturi'rl pipesof the `Aheating sys tems have'heen-arranged in` more'or Iess'circitos paths 30l beneath" 'the carl body; the 'circuitousipaths" A'be ing'r1e :es sary 'to avoid interferencef'with the various elementsof the brake equipment, reservoirs; etc?, whichia'eotdinarily position'ed'v -b'eneath a\ car. Cosequentiyfit hasfbee'n' mpractical to standardize `the-`location-andftlielengthfof the 35 branchconnections bet"ween`^}tl1'er 'radiators and "the supply"-U and 'return' pipes when 'the latter larearranged.' beneath thefcar."y TheI customary:practicethas been-suchs to i'equire'v the radiators -and their "ssoeiatedf iiilet'iv'alve'sf-to be secured 'in their 'installed positions -withinithe'e thereafter cut -ands tit *the* necessary .'branch pipes*- fr connecting each radiatoriinlet..vaive `to "the supply-'and return pipes of the system.

It i's a specific` "object Aof the presente inventior'to` providefsimpliiiedl construetion'szand `arrangenfients for over- 45 coming the above objections: In this'c'onne'ction.the.3in"" vention hasso improved the arrangements'andj .constructions -of the. systemvas af'whole-as to maken4 praetica'bie to standardize'thelengths'of the branch-'connections'between eaehnradiator valve land 'the"suppiy^fand"return ,-0

pipes -of 'the ,heating system, vwhereby"ea'cii' radiator; :its f? inlet valve, and, it desiredythef necessary'branehpipes may be all pre-assemblecl"andpressure"tested"'at the factory" and thereaftercarriedfintxthe car as auntnd connected vv'ithfthc*supplyandt rturnlpipe's ofjtlie system, ,fr the saidsupply 4andfretui'h pipes' being 'so' *located* that` the connections may be readily and convenientlyicompleted from locationswithinthe car;

Accordingv to 'this invention; the supp'Iy"and i'return pipes of the system areiocated between Amaimand- 'stlb-i 60 floors vof `the car, 'preferably/'irl trenchesextendingalng either. side of `the car forifsubstantiallythe"fuif length thereof. The-supply and re'turn pipes of the systernent'er the trenches through the .sub-oor and are"suit`ai5lyfsupportedt'therein to. permitfindividual .espansioni and" con- .65 traction 'of the? pipes" withot imposing? s tress'e's'" on'thev other. Inasmuch` as the' trenches are'frerof obstructions the'fsupply and returnfpipes maybe extended instraight parallel lines'throughouttheirfull lengths andayfbe also positioned in horizontal arrangementteaclrdtier 7.0

andfin uniforn 'spaced'trelation'to' eachthea'nditf the side wall of the 'car'and" thereby accomrnodate'brtich pipe connections'of uniforiniengthTli said'lsupply and return-pipes are' inclined' at a 'suitablei'pitch to insre proper drainingof condensatiomiwhen steamfy is usetfas 75 a heating rnediunfr,` and tliezradiatorstare removably s tlpported on the sidewall'of tliecar'with'capacity forvertical adjustment' to compensate for the'iinclintion'or pitehof the supply, and returnpipes.' vThe'`arrarlg'enient of the vsupply and returnpipes Withi'nrthet'trenciifotects 80 t. i i.' g cold rand 40" rice entrapped -tirevtpipeswdtiringf-severefjweatherhisnii-irimizod e l'cross-over conneation` xbranches@-aiide'the It Ais therefore a specic o'hjet o'fVtlieginventi'on to provide`Y at' heating 'system contat ig theimprovedV arrangements fand-"'corist`ri;tctionshereinaboveb'rieiiy 'describe; whereyirheiradiator-,eimer valve a'ndif desired,

"associated bifanch'pipe,construetioninaybe prei-'assem- Bleandsftesreneand thereafter installed in thesystern4 as annif;

Thelinventioneis `innstraint-,binu certain-pretence em- 1 is a'fragmentary planviewoffa raiilway'passen- Fig. 2' isa'zfreginentangrvicwginj perspective,- illustratingfanzpprtzved a:rangementofv `eating'.medium supply 'sectioalviwitlgenontlines of 8, 1s` afifra'grhentfary ,plan View illustrating. the .radiator supporting' bracketa fragmentary portionv` of. a

other lwi ,nient :in response' ifoe'xpa'nsionlzands contraction; of the each f thel compartments and, therefore, involves a large number of connections leading from the radiators to the supply and return pipes of the system.

In the present disclosure, the space between the side wall E and an adjacent longitudinal sill F of the car is enclosed on the bottom by means of a sub-oor plate G to form a trench H which opens upwardly into the car and extends from end to end thereof. A similar trench H is formed along the other side of the car by similar elements designated E', Ff and G. The top of the trench H is closed by a closure panel T, one longitudinal edge of which is supported in a kerf formed in the main floor I and the other edge of which is supported on a horizontal ange K of a channel member L which is secured to the side wall E of the car. The closure panel I may be formed in any suitable number of sections, whereby the sections may be separately applied and removed in the various compartments of the car. The closure panels I close the trench H in the same manner as described for channel H.

The heating system which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention may be briefly described as comprising a source of heating medium M, a series of radiators D located within the car, an inlet valve P for each radiator, and a pair of branch conduits Q and R of special construction for connecting each valve P with the supply and return pipes positioned in the trench H. Similar elements connect with the supply and return pipes at the other side of the car and are identified by the same ,reference characters provided with a prime exponent.

The supply and return pipes are arranged in the trenches so as to extend lengthwise of the car. They enter through openings -11 in the sub-floor sheet G and are supported in horizontal arrangement relative to each other on suitable supporting elements 12. heights of the elements 12 progressively increase toward the outer ends of the pipes so that the pipes are suitably inclined to insure thorough drainage of all condensation therefrom. The said pipes are held in predetermined spaced relation, for the purpose hereinafter described, by friction clamping elements 13 so as to permit independent expansion and contraction of the pipes relative to each other. The clamp members 13 have their opposite ends curved to provide seats 14 which embrace the upper portion of the pipes and support them in fixed parallel relation to each other and in fixed spaced relation to the side wall E. The clamp members preferably have some resiliency so as to hold the pipes firmly against the supports 12, to prevent rattle during movement of the car, but will permit the said lengthwise movement in response to expansion and contraction. A bolt 15 provides the clamping pressure for holding the pipes N and O in position.

The supply and return pipes are secured in their operativepositions (see Fig. 2) before the radiators are mounted on the wall of the car. These pipes are preferably in the form of brass tube sections of predetermined length united together by means of special T-ttings 16;

the fittings being positioned at locations where the heat radiating elements D are to ybe connected into the supply and return pipes. The said T-ttings include a hollow tubular body 17 which receive the adjacent ends of connecting tube sections of the pipes N and O, the ends of the tubes being soldered or otherwise suitably secured therein. The middle portion of the fitting is formed with spaced ribs 18-18 which serve as abutments for the ends of said tube sections. The central stem 19 of the T-fitting is formed with a passage 20 of suitable crosssectional area leading from the central passage 21 in the body to a threaded port 22 formed in the top face of the central stem. The several fittings 16 are so applied that the central stems 19 thereof extend horizontally into the space between the supply and return pipes N-O; the said pipes being so spaced that thevvertical axes of the ports 22 of all fittings on the supply and return pipes are maintained in alignment for the full length of the pipes. Consequently these centers are maintained at uniform distances from the side wall E of the car, which condition makes it practicable to utilize horizontal connections having uniform lengths X, as shown in Fig. ll, for both pipes N and O and at the same time permit the pipes N and O to be arranged in horizontal alignment. The horizontal alignment of said pipes N and O is an advantage in that the said horizontal alignment, together with the uniform lengths X of the branch pipes Q and R, makes for ease in The P therefor, and, if desired, the portions of the branch pipes Q and R shown in Fig.'3.

The supporting brackets S are secured to the side wall of the car at suitable locations for engagement with the radiator structure. The number used for each radiator depends upon the length of the radiator. In the present disclosure, the length and weight of the radiators are such that a bracket spaced at 6 foot intervals (see Fig. 6) are suicient to provide the necessary support. Each supporting bracket includes a base 27 which is secured by suitable fasteners 28 to the side wall of the car. Each base 27 is formed centrally with a vertically extending slot 29 of a width sufficient to receive the shank of a bolt 30. The upper end of the slot is enlarged at 31 to permit the insertion ofthe head 32 of the bolt therethrough, whereby the shank portion of the bolt may be moved vertically in the slot 29 while the head 32 engages the rear faces of the base to prevent the bolt from being withdrawn forwardly from the slot. The outer end of the bolt 30 in the base 27 adjacent the valve P is adapted to extend through an opening in angle bracket 33 on the `casing 34 of valve P, whereby the valve casing 34 may be firmly clamped to the support base 27 by means of a nut 35 (Figs. 4 and 5). The supporting brackets at the middle of the radiator D and at the end thereof remote from the valve include support bases 27 and bolts 30 as above described, but a substantially U-shaped bracket element 36 is mounted on the bolt 30 so as to be adjustable vertically of the base 27 and clamped thereto in any desired position. The U-shaped bracket elements are open at the top and thereby permit the pre-assembled radiator elements (Fig. 3) to be readily positioned in the bracket elements. After the radiator is positioned in the bracket. elements 36, a clamping spring 36a (Figs. 7 and 8) is engaged with the bracket element 36 to lock the radiator in position. The bracket elements, being adjustable vertically of the base member 27, permit the radiator to be adjusted vertically to provide the required drainage pitch to the radiators and to bring the ends of the branch pipes Q and R into alignment with the associated elbow fittings 23-23 connected in the trench. The said adjustment of the radiators, in addition to facilitating the coupling of nut 37 with the threaded end of the special elbow 23, compensate for the normal pitch of the supply and return pipes without varying the length of the vertical section 38 of the branch pipes Q and R. This is also true of installations in which the elevation of the supply and return pipes are altered abruptly, for example when the depth of the trench is decreased as shown at 38a in Fig. l0 where it passes over the main bolster of the car underframe.

The lengthwise expansion and contraction of the supply and return pipes within the trench may swing the horizontal portions of the branch connections Q and R to different angular positions, but the co-engaging surfaces 40 and 41 of the coupling members 23 and 25 are clamped together with sufficient pressure to withstand these stresses.

After the connections have been made in the trench H, the trench is filled with heat insulating material 42 so as to minimize the heat loss from the pipes and connectors within the trench. A grille 55 is secured to the side wall E of the car to cover the heat radiating fins 44 of the radiator D.

The radiator D may be of any approved construction. However, for the purpose of illustration, the radiators D are shown herein as comprising in each case, an outer pipe 43 provided with heat radiating ns 44. One end of the pipe 43 connects with an outlet chamber 45 in the valve casing 46. The other end is closed with a cap fitting 47. An inner pipe 48 leads from an inlet chamber 49 1n the valve casing 46 to the closed outer end of the outer pipe 43 so as to deliver the heating medium into the outer pipe at its outer end. The heating medium flows back toward 'the outlet chamber 45 formed in the valve casing 46. An electrically operating valve 50 controls the admission of heating medium into each radiator.

The flow of heating medium passes from the main supply M through pipe 51 to a temperature responsive central device 52, the delivery port of the device being connected by pipes 53 to the receiving end of supply pipe N. The outlet end of return pipe O connects through pipe 54 with a drain U, whereby all condensation of steam is discharged from the system. However, whenever stearn is discharged through pipe 54 it rises into a thermostat chamber V of the central device 52 and thereby results, in a manner well understood in the art, to reduce the delivery of steam to the supply pipe N.

The heating medium is supplied to the radiators at the other side of the car through a branch pipe 53a located underneath the car and extending beneath the car oor from pipe 53 to the inlet end of supply pipe N. The condensation from the radiators D is discharged through the pipe 54a into the pipe 54 and thence into the drain pipe U, as previously described.

The T-fitting 16, the specific construction of which is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, is not claimed specifically herein apart from the combination structure disclosed and claimed, the specific construction of the said fitting 16 being disclosed and claimed in our co-pending divisional application Serial No. 256,752, filed November 16, 1951.

We claim:

l. The combination with a railway car side wall and a floor structure of the car formed with a trench extending lengthwise of the car adjacent the side wall, of a heating system for the car comprising separate heating medium supply and return pipes supported in said trench in uniform spaced relation to each other and to said side wall of the car throughout the lengths of the pipes; a preassembled heat radiating element including a radiator, an inlet valve structure therefor including a casing having inlet and outlet portions therein, and a pair of branch pipes of uniform length including portions thereof extending transversely of the trench for connecting said inlet and outlet portions of the pre-assembled heat radiating element with said separate supply and return pipes; and bracket means fixed to the side wall of the car for supporting the pre-assembled structure and for adjustably varying its vertical position on the wall in relation to the elevation of said supply and return pipes.

2. A heating system as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the separate supply and return pipes are inclined lengthwise of the car and in that a plurality of pre-assembled heat radiating elements are connected in parallel relation at spaced locations into said supply and return pipes; the several branch pipes for connecting the inlet portions of the pre-assembled heat radiating elements with the supply pipe being of uniform length and the several branch pipes for connecting the outlet portions of the several pre-assembled heat radiating elements with the outlet pipe being of uniform lengths.

3. A heating system as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the separate supply and return pipes are supported in co-planar arrangement in the trench and inclined lengthwise of the car and in that a plurality of pre-assembled heat radiating elements are adjustably supported on the side wall of the car and are connected in parallel relation into said separate supply and return pipes and that all branch pipes for connecting the several pre-assembled heat radiating elements to the supply and return pipes are of uniform length.

4. The combination with `a side wall of an enclosed structure, of a heating system for the enclosure comprising heating medium supply and return pipes inclined lengthwise of the enclosure and supported in co-planar alignment transversely thereof and in uniform spaced relation to each other and to the said side wall, T-fittings interposed in the supply and return pipes with their central stems extending into the space between said supply and return pipes and each stem being formed in its upper face with a port the vertical center of which coincides with the longitudinal center of the space between the said supply and return pipes, and heat radiating elements mounted on the side wall of the enclosure, and having inlet and outlet portions, and branch pipe connections of uniform lengths leading from said inlet and outlet portions of the heat radiating elements to the ports of the several T-fittings interposed in said supply and return pipes.

5. The combination with a railway car side wall and a floor structure for the car formed with a trench extending lengthwise of the car along one of the side walls, of a heating system for the car comprising heating medium supply and return pipes supported in said trench in coplanar alignment transversely of the car and in uniform spaced relation to each other and to the side wall of the car, a pre-assembled heat radiating element including a radiator, an inlet valve structure therefor including a casing having inlet and outlet portions, and a pair of branch pipes of uniform length including portions thereof extending transversely of the trench for connecting said inlet and outlet portions of the radiator with the supply and return pipes, means fixed to the side wall of the car for removably supporting the radiator and its associated branch pipes in a position for attachment of the branch pipes to the supply and return pipes, and pipe fittings interposed in the supply pipes and having ports positioned between and equidistant from both said supply and return pipes for connection with said branch pipes.

6. A heating system as defined in claim 5 characterized in that T-fittings are interposed in the said supply and return pipes with their central stems extending into the space between said supply and return pipes and formed in said central stems with ports and in that elbow fittings of uniform length are fitted in the ports of said T-fittings and are removably connected with the pair of branch pipes which form a part of the pre-assembled heat radiating element, whereby the said inlet and outlet portions of the pre-assembled heat radiating element are connected to the supply and return pipes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 483,813 Sewall Oct. 4, 1892 1,407,263 Evans Feb. 21, 1922 2,113,775 Van Vulpen Apr. 12, 1938 2,191,526 Flogans Feb. 27, 1940 2,271,778 Parks et al. Feb. 3, 1942 2,292,328 Sisk Aug. 4, 1942 2,500,642 Morse et al Mar. 14, 1950 2,501,147 Tolan Mar. 21, 1950 2,534,148 Russell et al Dec. 12, 1950 

